Diu Mirena and heavy bleeding after removal

by Paula Gaspar
(Portugal)

Hello. I have 41 and I used DIU Mirena for three months, trying to prevent heavy bleeding during menstruation and strong anemia. I also have a small fibroid. I decided to remove Mirena because I begin to loose blood continually and had other nasty side effects (depression, hair loss, heavy legs, acne). After removing it, 15 days ago, I begin to have very heavy bleeding with large clots, until today. I begin to use Natpro 3 days ago, but now I realize that the dose you recommend for this condition is much higher than the usual and I only have one tube. I ordered 3 tubes yesterday but I imagine they will take 2 to 3 weeks to arrive (I'm in Portugal). I hope you can advise me on this situation (the heavy bleeding after removing the Mirena and how to manage it - I'm feeling weaker and weaker), and I was wondering if you know Darstin, it's a natural progesterone creme that I can buy in Spain. I wish to know if you consider it safe to use in large amounts until the Natpro arrives, although it's not comfortable to use because it's an hidro-alcholic formula and it has only 10 mg progesterona per 1g of gel. And the other ingredients are carbopol, triethanolamine, ethanol and water.

Thank you so much for your help.Kind regards.Paula

Comments for Diu Mirena and heavy bleeding after removal

Hi Paula I'm very relieved you've had the Mirena removed. It does not release progesterone but a progestin called levonorgestrel. This has been shown to lower progesterone levels, plus impeding the blood flow in the uterine arteries, see here and here. Levonorgestrel is derived from testosterone, so has androgenic properties. This is the prescribing information here, and please see here too. You might like to read these comments here from women who've used the Mirena. I do recommend 400mg/day for heavy bleeding, which means a tube will only last 5 days. Please consider taking 2000mg/day NAC (N-acetyl cysteine) too, this inhibits the MMPs which break down the lining, see our page on Menstruation for more info about this. Using the NAC with the progesterone is far more effective than progesterone alone. If you can't get the NAC please let me know and I will see what I can do about it. And you might like to read this page here on heavy bleeding. I do know about the Darstin, I had another woman write to me about it who lives in Spain. You might like to read what I told her here. It does contain things I would not put on my skin, but your situation is needing help fast, and if that's all you can get then use it. But 1 container will only last you 2 days. I think you're right about the time the post takes. Take care Wray

Jun 20, 2012

Re:by: Paula

Dear Wray, thank you so much for your comments. And congratulations for your website, it contains precious information. Do you know that natural progesterone is actually banned in Portugal? It was considered not safe by the entity that rules the pharmaceutical business! No drug store can sell an imported cream or manipulate natural progesterone in order to make a cream.I'm glad I had the Mirena removed, I'm only sorry that I didn't realize before what a poison it was. I ordered the NAC in a nearby shop and luckily I will have it tomorrow. In the meanwhile, and in despair trying to stop the bleeding, I'm on ibuprofen (another nasty drug). It has helped to stop the blood flow, although it's only a temporary solution. I'm also having about 400 mg of progesterone (combining Natpro and Darstin) daily. But I'm worried that the bleeding gets worse again if I reduce the amount of cream. Do you have any ideas about this? How much can I reduce the cream amount so that I don't have to use lots of Darstin (sometimes I wonder if I can get drunk with all that ethanol in my skin... :)) The truth is that I will have to wait about 2 weeks for the Natpro to arrive.Thank you once again for your help.Blessings.Paula

Jun 20, 2012

Re:by: Wray

Hi Paula Bless you for the kind words! It doesn't surprise me, but really saddens me. It's banned in some other countries too, but luckily we have the internet to get around all these daft laws. It's only too obvious the pharma companies are behind it, it works and they don't like that. Just as Codex is being implemented in Europe against many natural substances that we've used for centuries. Imagine milk thistle requiring a prescription?! What would the herbalists of old make of that, it's all daft. I'm pleased you've had the Mirena removed too, I have another woman using it for contraception, but all her PMS symptoms have worsened, not surprisingly. I think I saw your comment on her post in fact. So pleased you could get the NAC and that hasn't been banned! Please do take enough, at least 2000mg/day, I take this and more daily as it's such a powerful antioxidant. In fact there's reason to believe a lack has much to do with ageing, see here,here and here. I would hope the NAC will help the bleeding, or certainly reduce it, before the Natpro arrives. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if it stopped it. Please let me know as it will be so useful to tell others. I've only ever helped women who've used both. What a cost saving that would be to just use the NAC and not the progesterone! Well I think it's a cost saving, depends of course how much is charged for the NAC. I do understand about the ethanol issue, but of course the manufacturers had no idea when making it that far more is needed than their recommended amount. If you wish to begin reducing the progesterone you can start now, but you can't have much left. With the Natpro I suggest 1/2ml each time, which is about 16mg progesterone, but you will run out long before at that rate. I also don't want you to reduce too quickly as other symptoms can return, it's a catch 22! I will have to leave it to you, how much ethanol can you tolerate without becoming drunk! But please let me know if the NAC works, and how much you decided to reduce by. I do hope the cream arrives soon. Take care Wray

Jun 25, 2012

Re: Diu Mirena and heavy bleeding after removalby: Paula

Dear Wray,Thank you for all your help and also for the work you are doing here in the web site!

I started with the NAC and the bleeding stopped in 2-3 days. You were right, it seems now that the continuous bleeding was related with an inflammatory process. I'm also using Natpro, tough I've been reducing it until 200 mg/day, and I am feeling fine, in a good and relaxed mood, and it looks like my skin and hair are recovering from the Mirena damage.

Fortunately, the Natpro arrived in only one week, yeah! Last time I ordered it from UK and it took 3 weeks... Well, I'm really glad I found your web site :)

I'm even thinking in giving Natpro to my 15 years old daughter, because she has severe eczema, skin pigmentation and fat around hips and thighs (although being very skinny). These symptoms get worse before her period. What do you think of a 50 mg/day dose during 14 days per period?

I also would like to ask you, when you have the time, what is your opinion about phytoestrogens found in vegetables and grains (like soya, etc.). I'm not sure if they contribute to lower the estrogen level in the body, by occupying the estrogen receptors, or if in fact they worsen estrogen dominance symptoms. And there is so many contradictory information about this...

Bless you.Paula

Jun 27, 2012

Re: Diu Mirena and heavy bleeding after removalby: Wray

Hi Paula Well I can't tell you how delighted I am! NAC is just the best, it helps with all inflammatory conditions. Delighted too your skin and hair are recovering. I'm amazed the Natpro arrived so soon, we can never tell how long it takes, the vagaries of the post being what they are. One woman in New Zealand wrote in saying her cream had arrived in 5 days, it normally takes at least 3 weeks. It's safe to give your daughter, they give it to pre-term infants with respiratory distress syndrome. I put mine on when she was almost 15 and she still uses it at 30. You could try the 50mg/day, but as she's now an adult in biological terms, she might need more. Just watch for any Oestrogen Dominance symptoms. It could be she's lacking oils and fats in her diet, but eczema is such a difficult one to decipher, it could be caused by many other things. You say her symptoms get worse before her period, in which case she could have oestrogen dermatitis, see here. Ironically it's invariably attributed to progesterone, as this rises in the luteal phase, so the thinking goes it must be caused by it! But in every paper, whether it's called oestrogen or progesterone dermatitis, it always occurs in the few days before bleeding. No cognisance is taken of the fact that progesterone withdrawal occurs during these days, leaving oestrogen dominant. Please could she have a vitamin D test done, it's low in most of us, and is vital for the normal functioning of all cells. It's vital too for the health of the skin, see herehere. Is the pigmentation on her face? In which case it's melasma, it's caused by excess oestrogen stimulating melanocytes, these make melanin, the pigmentation in all skin types, see here and here. It's often a sign of adrenal stress too. Progesterone can resolve the problem, as it suppresses the excess oestrogen and it takes the strain off the adrenals. These make progesterone before they can convert it into cortisol, one of our stress hormones. Stress drops progesterone levels, thereby allowing oestrogen to dominate. Continued below.

Jun 27, 2012

Re: Diu Mirena and heavy bleeding after removal Part 2by: Wray

Hi Paula I'm not in favour of phytoestrogens. People from the opposite camp believe by occupying the receptor it prevents the more potent oestrogens binding. But, albeit low in oestrogenic activity, they can still activate the receptors. There are many papers showing a beneficial affect and an adverse effect. Like all things oestrogen, I don't believe the risks are worth it! The foods with the highest content are grains, legumes and oilseeds and oils. But we eat far more of the grains/legumes than nuts and seeds, so I will still continue to eat those, but try to avoid the grains and legumes. These are a few papers here, and herehere. Thanks for the kind words again! Take care Wray

Jun 19, 2015

what about progesterone pillsby: igraine

Hi, I had the mirena implanted several years ago after my first baby. Before I had it removed to get pregnant, I was already showing signs of low progesterone. I miscarried my second pregnancy then carried my now seven month old to term with the help of progesterone suppositories and pills. I have extra suppositories and pills that I stored away. Now I had the mirena implanted about 5 months ago (stupid me, I know) and just had it removed two days ago. It was a harrowing experience, but he finally got it out. He warned me i would have some bleeding and I did, but now today it's heavy and I know I just ovulated yesterday!! So. I'm guessing it's low progesterone again. What do you think of my using the suppositories or the pills to amend this problem? I would rather just use the pills since I'm bleeding, but I know progesterone is absorbed better via mucus membranes. TIA.

Although this web site is not intended to be prescriptive, it is intended, and hoped, that it will induce in you a sufficient level of scepticism about some health care practices to impel you to seek out medical advice that is not captive to purely commercial interests, or blinded by academic and institutional hubris. You are encouraged to refer any health problem to a health care practitioner and, in reference to any information contained in this web site, preferably one with specific knowledge of progesterone therapy.